Apparatus for the amusement of the public.



W. TAYLOR. APPARATUS FOR THE AMUSEMENT OF THE PUBLIC.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1909. 942,759. Patented 1380.7,1909. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 W. TAYLOR.

APPARATUS FOR. THE AMUSEMENT 01: THE PUBLIC.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1909. 942,759, Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

W. TAYLOR.

APPARATUS FOR THE AMUSEMENT OF THE PUBLIG.

1, APPLICATION 111mm APR. 5, 1909.

42 7M Patented Dec. 7, 1909. 4 SHEETS-SHEET s.

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W. TAYLOR. APPARATUS FOR THE AMUSEMENT OF THE PUBLIC.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1909.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4;.

WALTER TAYLOR, OF IBERIVIONDSEY, LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR THE AMUSEMENT OF THE PUBLIC.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VALTER TAYLOR, a subject of the King of England, residing at 98 Bermondsey Wall, Bermondsey, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Apparatus for the Amusement of the Public; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for the amusement of the public.

The apparatus consists broadly of a machine or device of the type of a see-saw, preferably of such shape, that it may be provided with a track around which people may ride in cars or the like, or around which by means of a chute they may slide seated on mats or the like or around which they may, in some cases, walk, holding suitable hand rails or other means for giving increased steadiness, such apparatus being preferably provided with means for enabling persons to enter and leave the machine while the same is in motion. In some cases the machine may be devised so as to enable it to be used at one and the same time or at different times for use in three ways, that is for the purpose of walking around it, for the purpose of riding on cars or their equivalents and for sliding on mats or the like. Suitable mechanism may be provided for keeping the machine constantly in motion. The motion communicated to the cars or to the persons seated on the mats or the like is preferably due to gravity as the apparatus tilts from side to side, but if desired other mechanism may be added to facilitate such motion.

In order that my invention may be better understood I will describe by way of example one method of carrying same into practice.

Figure l is a front elevation of an amusement apparatus constructed according to my invention as it would appear when fully set up. Fig. 2 is a plan of same with the awning removed. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the roof with the awning removed and partly in section. Fig. I is a front elevation and Fig. 5 a sectional elevation of the driving mechanism. Figs. 6 to 11 are details of al- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 5, 1909.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

Serial No. 488,059.

ternative methods of driving hereinafter referred to.

The same letters and numerals of reference are employed to denote the same parts in all the views.

a are sleepers which are used as the foundation upon which the whole structure rests. Bolted to these sleepers and coming on each side are two built up standards I) see Figs. 4c and 5, carrying at the top a bearing block 0 in the bearings of which is mounted the main axle d, by which the see-saw platform 6 is carried. I will now proceed to describe the see-saw platform 6 in further detail. This platform consists of a suitable foundation framework in rigid connection with the main axle d and having built around the edges thereof a boarded track f. This track it will be seen starts at g at a certain level and at a certain place preferably in the neighborhood of the main axle and coming just over same so that it may be entered from the platform It at the top of the steps 70 with facility when the see-saw is in action. The track f passes around the outer edge of the platform, and then dips down toward the end an terminating in an inclined exit chute n which comes below the level of the main axle (Z and under the platform 72,, so that persons on passing off the track 7 can alight 011 the ground level instead of having to descend any steps. The track f is preferably concave in cross section in order to render it impossible for persons seated on mats and using it to fall off, and the sides are inclined inward in the neighborhood of the curves in order to prevent the liability of persons sliding around the curves touching the said wall. The track may be inclined where required in order to facilitate motion along it besides the motion imparted through the rising and falling of the see-saw platform 6, and the curves may be banked up on the outer side to counteract the tendency to fly off. The track f is walled in at each side by boarding p to further prevent any possibility of accident. g is a strong longitudinal balk, located in the middle line of the platform and attached to the built up axle d. This balk Q has attached to it three vertical posts 1" which are connected together at the top by a cross piece 8. t is another cross piece. Stays it connect the cross piece t to the platform 8 on either side and other stays o connect the side posts r to the platform while other stays w connect the side posts 1 to the axle (Z. w are diagonal beams extending from the side posts 9 to the platform 0, and .2 are stays from these beams w also connected to the platform. It will be seen that the effect of this whole construction is that the platform is extremely rigid and that the whole weight is carried by the balk g which in turn is connected to the axle cl so that as the see-saw rocks up and down, the platform is perfectly rigid.

A suitable awning 2 is placed over the top of the stays and framework to hide them, as will be seen from Fig. 1.

3 is a passage way extending around the inside of the track f which can be used in case of emergency.

I will now describe the actuating mechanism shown at Figs. 4 and 5:-The balk g has pivotally attached thereto at 4 a connecting rod 5 which in turn is pivotally connected to a worm wheel 6, the corresponding worm 7 of which is carried by a shaft 8, which shaft has keyed to it a pulley wheel 9 which is driven by a suitable band from a motor. The bearings of the worm wheel 6 and the shaft carrying the worm 7 are suitably located in the said frames 1). It will be seen that when the pulley wheel. 9 is rotated the shaft 8 driving the worm 7 causes the worm wheel 6 to rotate comparatively slowly, so that the connecting rod 5 transmits a slow rising and falling motion to the see-saw platform 0.

The public who wish to use the apparatus ascend the steps In to the platform h, and having paid their money at the pay box 10, they seat themselves upon suitable mats on the track 7, which being at this portion just above the main axle receives a very slight amount of motion. In some cases instead of the members of the public having to seat themselves directly 011 the track, a fixed inclined platform may be formed on the platform It, leading on to the track f. The persons seat themselves on their mats on this platform and at the right moment are pushed off singly or in batches on to the track f, there being preferably a loose flap connection between the fixed platform and the track f to connect the two and facilitate entry on to the track. As the apparatus dips to the position shown at Fig. 1, the persons sitting on the mats will slide toward the lower end of the platform and the momentum thus gained will carry them partly around the curve, so that when the platform dips in the opposite direction they are again caused to slide to the opposite end, along the long track at the back, reaching the other curved end, and then when the see-saw dips back to the position shown at Fig. 1, the persons again move forward and emerge down the chute n, which being'located close to the suitably driven wheel 21.

axle is also receiving but a very slight amount of motion.

It will be understood as previously mentioned that in place of the members of the public seating themselves upon mats the track f may be provided with rails around which suitable cars may move, such cars being either provided with wheels runningon rails on the surface of the platform or hanging from suitable monorails carried above the platform, or the apparatus may be made to imitate a flying machine by providing suitable overhead wires carried by supports, along which wire devices resembling aeroplanes or the like may be made to travel. When cars are provided it may be found desirable to stop the see-saw when placing the occupant in the car. Again the track may be so arranged that the members of the public can walk around same, or facilities may be furnished for combining the various methods of utilizing the same machine.

I will now proceed to describe the various alternative methods of driving the apparatus shown in detail at Figs. 6 to 11. At Fig. 6 g is the main balk attached to the platform. (l' is the main axle. Bolted to the balk q is a projecting arm 11 provided with a long slot 12. 13 is a crank pin working in the slot 12 and attached to any suitably driven wheel 14 which may be driven for instance by chain, cable or spur gearing, thus giving the necessary rising and falling motion to the platform, as will be easily understood. Referring to Fig. 7, in this" case the main balk g has attached to it two lugs 15 and stretched between these lugs is a chain 16 passing around a part sprocket wheel 17 on the same spindle as which is a crank 18 which is connected to a connecting rod 19 pivoted to a crank pin 20 upon a Itv will be seen that as the wheel 21 rotates the connecting rod 19 reciprocates backward and forward rocking the sprocket wheel 17 backward and forward and consequently rocking the balk backward and forward through the intervention of the chain 16. Referring to Fig. 8, in this case the balk g has attached thereto a portion of a spur wheel 22, and which inter- .gears with a pinion 23, driven by any suitable chain gearing, so that the motion of the wheel 23 is reversed at intervals thus causing the platform to rock as before described. Instead of having a spur wheel 22 and a pinion 23, I may replace these by a worm and worm wheel. Referring to Fig. 9, in this case the balk g has the central post r extending downward and pivotally attached thereto is a connecting rod 24 which is con nected to the crank pin 25 of a suitably driven wheel 26 so that as such wheel rotates the connecting rod 24 rocks the platform backward and forward through the arm.

Referring to Fig. 10, in this case the balk g is provided with two lugs 27 connected by means of a flexible cable or cables 28, extending around two guide pulleys 29 and operated by a central interchangeable driving gear 30 by means of which the cable on one side is drawn in and the cable on the other side allowed to become slack or vice versa, thus obtaining the required rocking motion. Fig. 11 shows another method of driving the platform. In this case the balk g has pivoted to an extension thereunder a connecting rod 31, which is pivotally attached to a crank 82 from which it receives directly the necessary motion. It will be understood that these various methods of transmitting motion to the platform are shown by way of example merely, as the rising and falling motion may be produced by any other analogous or suitable means.

The apparatus may be so made as to be mounted either as a whole or in any required number of sections upon trolleys so as to render it easily transportable from place to place, and suitable shutters or the like may be provided for covering up the parts of the apparatus when packed away which may also be utilized for covering in the working parts when the apparatus is set up.

I may modify the details of construction as found necessary to suit all requirements while retaining the principle of the adaptation of a see-saw to the uses and purposes herein described.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America 1. An apparatus of the see-saw type comprising a platform, a track extending around same, means for entering the said track in the neighborhood of the main axle and preferably above same, means for leaving the track in the neighborhood of the said axle and preferably below same and means for mechanically operating the whole apparatus for the purposes set forth.

2. An apparatus of the see-saw type comprising a platform, a track extending around the same, means for entering said track in the neighborhood of the main axle and preferably above it, means for leaving the track in the neighborhood of the said axle and preferably below it, and means for mechanically operating the whole apparatus, said track being provided with boards on its bottom and with protecting sides, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

IVALTER TAYLOR. IVitnesses A. BROWNE, H. D. JAMESON. 

